Spotify Delays $5/Month AI Remix Feature Amid Artist Resistance and Label Negotiations
Spotify's planned paid AI remix service faces delays as contemporary musicians refuse participation, requiring individual consent beyond record label agreements.
According to a Financial Times report, Swedish streaming giant Spotify has delayed its planned AI-assisted remix feature. The service, which allows users to modify existing songs using AI (e.g., turning a rock track into a dance remix), was expected to cost up to $5 per month additionally.
Citing informed sources, the report states that the primary obstacle is convincing well-known contemporary musicians to participate. While Spotify has reached an agreement with Universal Music Group, the world's largest record label, it is still negotiating with Sony Music and Warner Music. Crucially, artists retain the final decision on whether their work can be modified by AI, even if they are signed to these labels.
Some established older artists have signaled support, but resistance from younger generations is evident. In early October, US singer Olivia Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter, "I would never use AI in my music, absolute no."
Spotify Co-CEO Gustav Söderström stated in August that the feature would launch when ready, starting with a public "Research Preview" for some users. Bernstein analyst Ian Moore estimates that 7% to 8% of paying Spotify customers in the US could use the feature by the end of 2028, potentially helping the company meet its revenue growth targets.